O God, be merciful,
Be merciful to me,
For man with constant hate,
Would fain my ruin see.
My many enemies
Against me proudly fight;
To overwhelm my soul
They watch from morn to night.
What time I am afraid
I put my trust in Thee;
In God I rest, and praise
His Word, so rich and free;
In God I put my trust,
I neither doubt nor fear,
For man can never harm
With God my helper near.
All day they wrest my words,
Their thoughts are full of hate;
They meet, they lurk, they watch,
As for my soul they wait;
Shall they by wickedness
Escape Thy judgment right?
O God of righteousness
Destroy them in Thy might.
Thou knowest all my woes,
O treasure Thou my tears;
Are they not in Thy book,
Where all my life appears?
My foes shall backward turn
When I appeal to Thee,
For this I surely know,
That God is still for me.
